Patagonia, Inc. (an American outdoor gear and apparel company) and Toray Industries, Inc. (a leading Japanese manufacturer of fibers, plastics and chemicals) announced on December 12, 2006 that they will be marketing clothes made of recycled nylon-6. Work pants made from the fabric will be available starting in fall 2007 and board shorts from spring 2008 at 2,000 shops in 12 countries around the world.
Under this partnership, Toray produces nylon-6 fibers through a recycling process in which it melts and chips irregular fabric generated in the nylon-6 production process and spins it into yarn again. Patagonia uses the recycled nylon-6 fiber to manufacture and sell garments.
Compared to clothing produced with fabric made from oil-derived virgin nylon-6 fiber, producing clothing with recycled nylon-6 fabric consumes only one-sixth of the energy and emits one-fifth of the carbon dioxide.
The two companies are willing to increase the range of their environmentally friendly products and services to help create a sustainable society.
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